Another week has been and gone in the Adran Leagues, as we inch closer to the business end of the season.
With only a few games to go before the Adran Premier split, every game now matters more than ever.
Let’s take a look back at the week that was.
Adran Premier
We begin this week in Leckwith. When a clash occurs between a team at the top and a team at the bottom, your non-match going fan would assume an easy victory for the table toppers. Cardiff City have looked imperious this season, but despite Pontypridd United being bottom of the table, the Dragons have been showing signs of life in their battle to avoid the drop. But their brave performance couldn’t quite get them over the line, as the Bluebirds won 2-1.
A good City start saw them get through frequently on goal, but they couldn’t land any efforts on target. But they were handed the perfect opportunity to go ahead from the penalty spot after Mikayla Cook was fouled. Up stepped Siobhan Walsh who calmly slotted the spot kick away.
But the lead would only nine minutes, as the visitors responded in fine fashion. Madison Williams laid a ball out to Efa Preece Jones, who picked the top corner out from 30-yards out. A stunning goal out of nothing.
Back came the hosts with their free-flowing attack, but they were finding goalkeeper Klaudia Wojtyczka a problem to get past. The Polish shot stopper has been in the form of her life in recent games.
But her goal was to be breached 20 minutes before the end as City found their winner; Kelly Adams’ cross met by the head of Eliza Collie. A hard-fought win for the Bluebirds who maintain their lead at the top of the table.
Next to Cyncoed. Before this season, Barry Town had never beaten Cardiff Met. But after a win against them earlier in the season, the Linnets were standing on the verge of a historical double. With a boisterous away support behind them, Barry did create history, as they defeated the Archers 1-0.
Confidence had been building under Stevie McCarthy-Campbell, and Barry started this game with a swagger to them; Aimee Deacon striking the post within ten minutes the perfect example of that. Met, on the other hand, were reduced to shots from range and were hardly testing Erin Brennan in the opposition net.
The wave of yellow pressure continued to start the second half as Catherine Walsh’s free kick went close. But their dominance paid off for their winner, as they were awarded a penalty after Tiggy Webb couldn’t deal with the pace of the Barry attack. Up stepped Town’s top scorer Deacon who dispatched her penalty excellently to wrap up all three points. Barry now move above Met in the table.
Another team standing on the verge of an important milestone were Wrexham. The newly promoted side could seal a place in the top four with a win over an Aberystwyth Town side, who themselves were looking to sneak into the top four. It was the Red Dragons who’d be celebrating a spot in the Championship Group with a 1-0 win over the Seasiders.
Two of the league’s hungriest and most determined strikers were creating headlines early on. Both Rosie Hughes and Amy Jenkins were stretching defences and causing havoc, but neither could find the opening goal.
The supporting cast soon after were pushing too. Carra Jones struck the post from distance, while Lily Moralee-Hughes was denied by a fine Del Morgan save. But it was to be Jones who would score the decisive goal early in the second half, as she headed in from close range.
An important win for Wrexham, who have had a phenomenal season. For Aber, they still have a chance of getting into the top four.
The reason why Aber still have a chance is because of TNS. Having at one staged look comfortable inside the top four, have been on a run of three defeats on the spin. The last thing they needed was to face a Swansea City side who have looked rampant in recent weeks. The Saints’ woes would continue, as the Swans strode to a 5-0 win.
The game was only six minutes old when the ever-reliable Katy Hosford put ahead with a composed finish, before another six minutes later, Stacey John-Davis produced an equally calm finish as she got on the end of Sammy Wynne’s through ball. It could have been more before the break, but Saints keeper Ellie Suckley did well to thwart John-Davis and Lucy Finch.
But in the second half, Swansea went into a different gear and found three more goals to rubberstamp their authority on the tie. A header from Wynne, a second for John-Davis and a fine strike from Chloe Chivers making it 5-0 at full time. Swansea play Cardiff City in the final game of phase one, will they end their winning streak? For TNS, they will be looking nervously over their shoulders.
Adran North
Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend came at the Deeside Stadium. Following Connah’s Quay’s slip up against Y Felinheli two weeks ago, Llandudno had climbed to the top of the table. If Dudno won on Sunday, they would control their own destiny in the race for the title. It would be the Seasiders who would record a monumental 2-0 away win.
A tight and cagey first half looked set to end goalless, but league top scorer Stevie Donougher snuck in with two minutes of the half remaining to put the leaders ahead. The Nomads battled throughout the second half, but it would be Donougher who popped up again in the 87th minute to seal a vital win for Llandudno. Connah’s Quay will now be hoping other sides will do them a favour.
At the other end of the table, NFA leaped out of the bottom spot in style with a 4-0 win over Bangor. Jessica Mills got the away side off to the perfect start by nodding in Jade Scott’s corner. Bangor rallied back and created opportunities, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
How Bangor would rue their missed chances, as NFA strode to victory in the final 20 minutes. Ashleigh Mills completed a four-minute brace, while Scott added the cherry on the cake by scoring their fourth. This was only NFA’s second win of the campaign, but what a win it was.
Elsewhere, Y Felinheli kept up their good run with a 4-0 win over Airbus.
Jenna Allsup scored two in two minutes to put the visitors in a comfortable spot, before Fflur Williams added a third before the break. The scoring spree would stop two minutes into the second period as Catrin Evans scored her side’s fourth. Felinheli stay third, while Airbus drop to the bottom of the Adran North.
Adran South
Things continue to look rosy in Briton Ferry’s garden, as they maintained their 100% record in the Adran South with a 5-1 win over Swansea University.
The student side have become tough opponents for any opposition they’ve faced this season, and this game was no different, as Ferry struggled to score. But in first half stoppage they finally broke the deadlock, as Alison Witts fired in from close range.
With one under their belts, Ferry wasted no time in adding more goals in the second half, as they scored four inside 16 second half minutes. Witts added her second, while Laura-May Walkley, Alice Broadley, and Fleur Jenkins all added their names to the score sheet. Another solid day at the office for Rhys James’ side.
Second placed Cascade notched up another victory in the win column, as they edged past Pontardawe Town 2-1.
Phoebe Ware but the away side on front five minutes in, but Renee Day equalised six minutes into the second half. Games between these two last season were always explosive and dramatic, and this game was no different. Annaliese Lewis netted in the final ten minutes to snatch all three points for Cascade.
Finally, Cwmbran Celtic continued their fine form with a 5-1 dismantling of Llanelli Town.
Since her arrival at Celtic Park, Jade Crofts has been a superstar, and she continued her fine form by scoring a hat-trick in this big win. Fiona Anthony and Georgia Shwartz were also amongst the goal scorers. Lynsey Morris did make it 3-1 at one stage, but it wasn’t enough for Llanelli, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats.
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